MANCHESTER UNITED are accepting mediocrity if they stick with Jose Mourinho.

Jose Mourinho suffered his heaviest ever home defeat as a manager last night (Image: GETTY)

That’s the opinion of player-turned-pundit Chris Sutton.

The Red Devils suffered a second successive Premier League defeat with Mourinho suffering his heaviest ever home loss - a 3-0 reverse at the hands of Tottenham at Old Trafford.

United’s turbulent pre-season has carried into the 2018-19 campaign following Mourinho’s rants over their preparation for the season and his public discontent at failing to get a new centre-back.

Mourinho’s post-match behaviour last night suggested that the Portuguese tactician’s time at the club is nearing its end as he spent 30 seconds in front of the Stratford End after the full-time whistle clapping supporters.

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Manchester United are six points adrift of some of their title rivals after just three games (Image: GETTY)

Jose Mourinho felt his side still performed well tactically despite their heavy defeat (Image: GETTY)

He later walked out on his post-match press conference, slamming reporters for a perceived lack of respect as he brought up the fact he has won more Premier League titles - all three coming in two spells at Chelsea - than all the other 19 current top-flight managers combined.

But with United having been well below par in the last two matches, losing 3-2 at Brighton before their sorry second-half collapse against Spurs, Sutton believes United need to take action.

“Has Mourinho just walked into this job? No, he’s had two years to build this team,” he said on BBC Sport 5Live, criticising the fact United conceded twice within a matter of minutes for the second successive league match.

“Maybe it is a confidence thing but the manager has to carry the can and take the responsibility. People can keep harping on about his fantastic managerial record - and it is fantastic, but it’s the here and now.

“If United want to accept mediocrity, that’s what they are at best this season and Liverpool, Manchester City and Spurs are in a different league. They’re playing in a different league.

Mourinho made a point of spending a long time clapping United fans after full time (Image: GETTY)

“Is that good enough for Manchester United? I think not. They were all at sea, I don’t get the excuses.

“Had he just walked into the job, I could understand it. He’s spent £353million on moulding this team. Is that not enough?”

Told by presenter Mark Chapman that Mourinho cannot be to blame for Romelu Lukaku’s first-half miss, which might have seen United go on to win the game, ex-Blackburn, Chelsea and Celtic striker Sutton said: “Who do we blame then? The manager picks the team.

“So any mistake now we say managers are exempt, it’s all down to the players?

“Mourinho’s been at United for a long time - he knows the game, he knows the rules. This is Mourinho’s United team.

“If this was Louis van Gaal, a performance like that, the fans would be chanting ‘Get him out!’.”

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Jose Mourinho consoled Luke Shaw after he was one of United's only impressive performers (Image: GETTY)

Many suspect Jose Mourinho's time as United manager to be coming to an end (Image: GETTY)

United return to action with their final game before next month’s international break with a clash against Burnley this Sunday (4pm).

Bookmakers Betfair, however, have slashed odds on Mourinho leaving his role by Christmas to just 7/4 and he is the odds-on favourite at 10/11 to be the first top-flight boss sacked.

Betfar spokesperson Katie Baylis said: “If Jose Mourinho was under pressure before tonight, United’s 3-nil loss to Spurs has pushed the situation into crisis point at Old Trafford, even if it is only three games into the season.

“Off the back of the loss, Mourinho’s biggest ever home defeat in all competitions, his odds of being out the door by Christmas have been slashed from 7/4 to 8/13, while he’s 1/4 not to see out the season and we’ve even got a price for him of 6/1 not to last the week.”